Слайд 1Big Ben
Form 5 “V”
Plotnicova Angelina
                                                            
                                                                    
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 2Big Ben is one of the most important attributes of the
                                                            
                                    British capital. 
It is a unique symbol of Great Britain, known to almost every person on the planet.
                                
                            							
							
							
						 
											
                            Слайд 3Big Ben Facts
Each dial is seven metres in diameter
The minute hands
                                                            
                                    are 4.2 metres long and weigh about 100kg 
The numbers are approximately 60cm long
There are 312 pieces of glass in each clock dial
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
											
                            Слайд 5
The History of Big Ben
The Palace of Westminster was destroyed by
                                                            
                                    fire in 1834. In 1844, it was decided the new buildings for the Houses of Parliament should include a tower and a clock. 
A massive bell was required and the first attempt (made by John Warner & Sons at Stockton-on-Tees) cracked irreparably. The metal was melted down and the bell recast in Whitechapel in 1858. Big Ben first rang across Westminster on 31 May 1859. A short time later, in September 1859, Big Ben cracked. A lighter hammer was fitted and the bell rotated to present an undamaged section to the hammer. This is the bell as we hear it today.
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
                            Слайд 6Big Ben has rarely stopped. Even after a bomb destroyed the
                                                            
                                    Commons chamber during the Second World War, the clock tower survived and Big Ben continued to strike the hours.
                                
                            							
														
						 
											
											
                            Слайд 8The chimes of Big Ben were first broadcast by the BBC
                                                            
                                    on 31 December 1923, a tradition that continues to this day.
In June 2012 the House of Commons announced that the clock tower was to be renamed the Elizabeth Tower in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.